Apparatus for indicating excessive deviation of drill holes from the vertical



1,850,399 E DEVIATION March 22, 1932- J. J. JAKosKY APPARATUS FOR INDICATING EXCESSIV OF DRILL HOLES FROM THE VERTICAL v 1929 .5 Sheets-*Sheet l Filed March 11 INVENTOR. Y fai/l J ias/jy. BY m M/ ATTORNEYS March 22,?1932.

J. J. JA SKY ssIvE DEvIATIoN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY` March 22, 1932. .1. J. JAKosKY .1,850,399

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING' EXCESSIVE DEVIATION' 0F DRILL HOLES FROM THE VERTICAL med March 11, 1929 5 sheets-sheet :5

ATT RNEYS March 22, 1932. J. .1. JAKosKY 1,850,399

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING EXCESSIVE DEVIATION OFADRILL HOLES FROM'THE VERTICAL Filed March 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEYS v APPARATUS FOR INDICATING ExcEssIvE DEvIATIoN oF DRILL HOLES FROM'THE VERTICAL Filed March 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented' Mar. 22, A1932 UNITED s'rA'rlazsl PATE-Nr OFFICE JOHN J. JAxosxY, OE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOIt 'ro VDRILL eiIIDExIN- GORPOEATED, OE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OE NEVADAV APPARATUS EOR INDIGA'IING ExoEssIvE DEVIAIION OE DRILL HOLES Enom THE- vEE'rIcAL e Application led March 11, 1929. Serial No. 346,223.

drill holes, or other holes into the earth, in- 2 clined structures, or masses of varying hardnesses and physical characterlstlcs, are often encountered, and these or other reasons frequently cause the drill to be deflected from its initial vertically downward direction, thus causing the hole to deviate from the vertical, and in many cases this deviation has been found to continually increascwith continued drilling, to a very undesirable extent. In an article in the Oil and Gas Journal, August 23, 1928, page 30, the following are included as some of the more important causes for crooked holes in oil well drilling operations:

1. Excessive weight on drill bit.

2. Too rapid drilling. v

3. Flexure of drill pipe caused by excessive weight:

4. Caving formations allowing excessive liexure of drill pipe.`

5. Poor alignment in starting hole.'

6. Bent or kinked drill pipe.

7. Unsymmetrical bits.

8. Dip, faulting, and fracturing of strata.

9. Changes in character of formation from soft'to'hard and hard to soft.

A further condition which has frequently been assigned as a cause of crooked holes is the excessive use of circulating fluid, leading to hydraulicing, that is, to erosion of the hole by the high velocity of the fluid, so that the hole becomes larger than the bit and al'- lows the bit to wobble or the drill pipe to Hex.

Many oil well holes, because of such deviation, either. enter the productive sands at points far to one side of their original goals, or entirelyfail to strike these sands. Furthermore, a well started on one owners property may deviate to such an extent as to strike .the oil sands at a point directly beneath the property of some one else instead of beneath the property on which it was started, thus seriously impairing the production of another well properly belonging to the other property. Another disadvantage of this deviation is that it not only makes further drilling operations more difiicult but also interferes to a considerable extent with the Subsequent pumping operations.

In the above mentioned article in the Oil and Gas Journal the disadvantages resulting from crooked holes are divided into drilling troubles and production troubles. 'lhe list of drilling Atroubles there enumerated includes the following:

1. Excessive depreciation of drill pipe caused by crystallization, and permanent bending and kinking of pipe. Some contractors make it a practice to use new drill pipe on every fifth hole..

2. Twisting olf of drill pipe.

3. Costly fishing jobs.

4. Difficulties of shing jobs increased by crooked holes. 5

5. Loss of drilling time on account of troubles here cited.

6. Sidetracking jobs.

7 Crookedness of holes increased by sidetracking jobs.

8. Difficulties in running casing in crooked holes.

9. Damage to casing caused by exure.

10. Difficult or imp ossible to finish some rotary holes with cable tools.

11. In extreme cases, impossible to run cable tools through casing in crooked holes.

12. Loss of circulation through other holes where wells drift close together.

13. Line cutting ofv casing, especially in combination drilling.

'1:14. Excessive wear upon drilling lines in combination drilling.

15. Collapsing of casing due to line cutting and unequally distributed stresses caused by casing flexures. 16. Excessive consumption of power because of increased friction.

17. Costof drilling unnecessary footage due to extra length of crooked holes.

18. Time lost in drilling extra footage .caused by crooked holes.

19. Damage to neighboring wells, or from neighboring wells, caused by actual intersection or through accidental mudding or cementingof one well by another. The frequently reported migration of mud fluid from one well to another is undoubtedly due to wells drifting close together in many cases.

20. Abandonment of holes caused principally by unsuccessful fishing jobs, holes drifting off structure or becoming too crooked to use and the chance intersection of one hole by another so that one of them must be abandoned.

21. Diiliculty of subsurface correlations, especially in determining-where to set casing tomake proper water shut offs.

' The production troubles enumerated by the same writerare as follows:

1. Inadequate and misleading subsurface information. v

2. Well spacing and-surface locations lose their significance from a subsurface point of 3. Inad uate ductive san 4. Excessive wear and failure ofsucker rods. v

5. Rod cutting of tubing. 6. Excessive wear of pump plungers. v 7. Diiiiculties in gettin plunger to enter working barrel except were insert barrels are use 48. Diiliculty in properly counterbalancing the pump equipment in crooked holes.

9. Diiliculties in swabbing caused by casing exures and line cutting.

10. Excessivel power consumption caused by .friction losses in pumping wells. 11. Diiliculty in running tubing catches.

12. Accentuation of fishing troubles, especially in the loss of time in recovering broken rods or parted tubing.

testing and drainage of pro- Means have been proposed for determiningthe course of an oil well or other bore hole after the same has been completed, by lowering suitable deviation indicating or recording instruments therein, but the great disad- `vantage of all the devices heretofore proposed is that they do not give an indication of the deviation until all the harm is done. If a dangerous or.undesirable deviation, or a departure from the proper position at the depth of the oil sands, is found in a well which has been already drilled, it is necessary to re-drill the entire hole from the point 'at which the excessive deviation begins, this being ordinarily done by cementing the hole at this point, for a suicient height, so thatupon re-drilling through the cement, a new and straighter course will be followed. Needless to say, such operations are not only expensive in themselves, but represent a still angle, the hole may be straightened with comparative ease, by simply raising the drill a little distance and slowly re-drilling the part of the hole at which the excessive deviation began. The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide for ready detection of any excessive deviation, during the drilling operation, so as to permit the operator to take proper steps to eliminate it before the drilling has proceeded very far in the wrong direction. The amount of re-drilling may thus be reduced to a minimum, and the completion of a reasonably straight hole within the shortest possible time is made possible, in Iaddition to insuring that the hole will strike the Voil sands approximately at the point intended. The possibility of having to completely re-drill the maJor portion of 'the hole is thus eliminated.

My' invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with rotary drilling operations, as distinguishedjfrom the cable-tool or churn method. In the rotary method of drilling, a suitable bit is mounted at the bottom of a stringof drill-pipe extending to the bottom of the hole, and the pipe and bit are slowly rotated by means ofa rotary device connected to the drill pi above the surface. A continual circulation of fluid, commonly known as rotary mud, is maintained through the hole, this mud being prepared by mixing a suitable clay with water to the proper consistency. The mud so prepared 1s pumped down throu h the central opening of the drilllpipe an out throughfluid at a point adjacentthe lower end of the hole, whenever the deviation thereof from the vertical exceeds a certain amount, as to give an indicationof such excessive deviation in the circulating Huid` at thesurface.

An advantageous method of detecting or indicating excessive deviations of the hole, according to my invention, comprises providing a charge of indicating agent adjacent the drill bit, or adjacent the lower end of the drill pipe, and causing a quantity or charge of such agent to be. delivered to the circulating fluid or mud, at the bottom of the hole, whenever the deviation thereof from the vertical exceeds a certain allowable angle, such agent having suitable properties by which .its presence in the circulating fluid can be suitable indicating means, u on the returnof the fluid to the surface. s only a short period of time is vrequired for the mud to pass from the bottom of the hole ,to the top, it will be seen that this provides a simple means of giving an indication at the surface of any excessive deviation before such deviation, has progressed very far.

The indicating agent may, for example, comprise a dye or coloring agent of high intensity, in which case its presence in the .fluid can be detected visually, or by use of suitable indicating means, vsuch as a mordant, immersed in the circulating fluid and adapted to fix the dye; or a substance having a characteristic strong odor, or adapted to react. with vvater to form a gas having a strong odor; or it ma comprise a salt or electrolyte adapted to in uence the electrical conductivity or other property of the mud, and the resulting variation in conductivity or other property may be detected or indicated by any suitable means. Another form of indicating agent comprises a substance having a charac- -teristic chemical reaction with a certain testing agent, by means of which its presence in the circulating fluid can readily be detected. It will be understood that the above are only a few of the many examples which will readily suggest themselves, as suitable agents for use in the above method.

Any suitable deviation-responsive means -may be employed for causing the delivery of the indicating agent to the circulating fluid in case of excessive deviation, but myinvention also comprises certain novel and advantageous apparatus for this purpose. Such apparatus comprises essentially a container mounted adjacent the bottom of the drill pipe and containing a suitable charge or quantity of indicating agent, a deviation responsive element, and means controlled by said deviation responsive element for releasingor delivering said agent from-said container intoV the circulating fluid Whenever the deviation of the hole from the vertical exceeds a certain allowable angle.

In a preferred form of such apparatus, the deviation responsive element comprises .a weight or bob supported Within a suitable housing, Vso as to swing freely about its point of support, which is located above its center of gravity, whereby said Weight will always maintain a position with its center of gravity directly beneath said point of support.

Means are also provided Within the housing and surrounding said Weight, so as to be operated by the weight Whenever the deviation of the hole exceeds a certain predetermined value, said means being .adapted to control the release or delivery of the indicating agent.

For example, said control means may comprise electric contact means associated with electrically controlled means for effecting the hole must be maintained for a certain period of time, or during one ormore complete revolutions of the drill pipe and bit, before delivery of the indicating agent will be effected.

More specifically, the preferred form of.

my deviation detecting apparatus comprises a weight or bob supported as above described, and a plurality of circuit closing ele1nents,dis posed about said Weight and normally in open-circuit position, but movableto circuit closing position upon successive operation thereof by said Weight during one 'or more revolutions of said device (due to rotation of the drill pipe when in non-vertical position). The contact means of all the circuit closing elements are connected in series in a cont-rol circuit,.so that upon movement of all of said elements to circuit closing position said circuit iscompleted. Completion of this circuit then acts in any suitable manner to cause release or delivery of the indicating agent from its container.

The above described apparatus, including the container for the indicating agent, and the means for effecting delivery thereof to the circulatin fluid, in case of excessive deviation, is pre erably mounted inside the drill pipe in such manner as to leave room for passage of the circulating fluid around the same. This insures substantial alignment of the apparatus with the drill pipe at all times, protects the apparatus from damage by contact with objects outside the drill pipe, and permits ready dischar e of the indicating agent into the stream of circulating fluid.

The accompanying drawings illustrate apparatus embodying the above principles, and the method in which the invention is carried out, using such apparatus, but it is to be understood that the specific forms of apparatus shown are by way of examples only, and that many modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a vertical section of a bore hole with a rotary drilling apparatus in place therein, and provided Withmeans according to my invention for indicating excessive deviation of the bore detecting apparatus shown in hole from the vertical.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofla portion of deviation responsive control element of theI apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section thereof on line 7 -7 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 in Fig. 6, with the exterior casing 26 omitted.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section online 9-9 in Fig. 6, withthe exterior casing 26 omitted. Fig. 10 is an inverted horizontal section on line 10-10 in Fig. 6, with the exterior casing 26 omitted.

Fig. 11 is a sectionalview of the structure 1 shown in Fig. 6 taken along the line 11-11 looking in the direction indicated,with the exterior casing 26 omitted.

Fi 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing t e device in a tilted position, so as to illustrate the action thereof. v

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the receptacle for receiving thefluid upon itsreturn to the surface, showing an advantageous means for indicating the presence of an indicating agent in the fluid. l

Fig.f14 is a partly sectional side elevation of an apparatus havin a modified form of means for effecting degvery of the indicating agent.

Fig. 15 is a section on lines 15-15 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section of the upper section of a detecting apparatus, showing another mea-ns of effecting delivery of the indicating agent.

Fig. 17 is a section on line 17-17 in Fig. 16.

Fi 18 is a section on line 18-18 in Fig. 16. ,Re erring to Fig. 1, a bore hole is shown, comprising an upper ortion 1 of relatively lar diameter. provi ed with a string of casing 2 cemented olf at its lower end in the usual manner as shown at 3, anda lower portion 4 of somewhat smaller diameter. The pump is shown as comprising a string of rotary drill pipe 6 having a bit 7 at the lower end thereof and provided at its upper end with bevel gear means 8 for effecting rotation thereof at any usual. or suitable speed. The upper end of the drill pipe is connected through the usual swivel 9 and flexible hose 11 to a pump -12`whose inlet pipe 18 leads to a sump or other storage means 14 in which is provided a supply of mud or fluid of proper consistency for circulation throu li the pump. From the upper end of casing ,a pipe 16 leads to storage means 14, and in order to facilitate detection of the presence of an indicating agent in the fluid delivered through 7 said pipe, I prefer to provide a separate receptacle 17 iii position to receive the fluid discharged from said ipe. From said sep.- arate receptacle the uid may pass in any suitable manner to the main storage means, l as by overflowing a weir 18.A Means, such as indicated at 15, may be provided in receptacle 17 for indicating the presence of the indicating agent in the fluid. It will be understood, of course, that the drill pipe is proi videdwith an internalpassage for downflow of fluid throughout its entire length, the lower portion of said passage being indicated in dotted lines at 19, and the drill bit -7 is provided with one or more passages 21 coml municating with the lower end of passage 19 for permitting outflow of iuid adjacent the cutting edges or faces of the bit. l According to my invention a deviation detecting apparatus22 is mounted adjacent 1 the bit or the -lower portion of the drill pipe, j and said apparatus is preferably mounted within the interior passage 19 ofthe drill f pipe and as near the lower end thereof as is P convenient, for example in the position in- 1 dicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. 'lhe deviation detecting apparatus 22 is shown as comprising a housing formed of three sections of tubing 24, 25 and 26. The upper section 24 serves as a container for the indicating agent and is providedV .with suitable electrically controlled means for causing delivery of said indicating agent therefrom upon completion of the control circuit. The intermediate section 25 contains the source of electric power for said control circuit, while the lowermost section 26,contains the deviation responsive means for causing completion of said control circuit whenever the axis ofthe detecting alpparatus, during rotation of the drill pipe, eviates from the vertical beyond a certain angle, due to deviation of the bore hole. The upper housing section 24 is provided with a cap 'member 27 threadedly mounted or otherwise tightly securedthereon as at 29, and is threadedly coimected or otherwise tightly secured at its lower end to the upper end of the intermediate section 25, as at 30. An end wall 28 is preferably provided at the upper end of section 25, so as to serve as a partition between the interiors of the upper and intermediate sections. The intermediate casiu section 25 is in turn threadedly connecte or otherwise tightly secured at its lower eiid to the upper end of the lower section 26, as shown at 31, andan end wall 32 1s also preferably provided at the upper en d of the lower-section, so as to serve as a partition between the lower and intermediate sections.

A closure member 33 is threadedly mounted or otherwise tightly secured to the lower end pipe. The external diameter of the housino of the detecting apparatus is. somewhatsmaller than the internal diameter of the drill pipe, so that'it may be mounted in the passage 19 of the drill pipe without completely filling the same, thus leaving an annular space around the apparatus, as indicated at 19 in Fig. 2, for passageA of the rotary mud past the apparatus. An advantageous form of means for rigidly mounting the detecting apparatus in proper position in the drill pipe is illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Such means may comprise a plurality of centering arms oi' members 36 preferably pointed at their outerends and slidably mounted in recesses 37 in cap member 27 so as to be adjustable inwardly or outwardly, and provided with means such as set screws 38 for holding the same in any position of adjustment, and a plurality of Acentering and .supporting arms in the drill pipe, the centerin or members 41 preferably pointed at their outer'ends and similarly. mounted in recesses 42 in the lower closure member 33 and provided with means such as set .screws 44 for holding them in adjusted position, said arms 41also having downwardlyextending portions or branches 45 .preferably pointed at their lower ends. In mounting the apparatus arms 36 at thereof may be rst adjusted so as to make a tight sliding fit with the inside of the drill pipe, and the apparatus may then be inserted upwardly into the lower end the upper end of a joint or section of drill pipe such as inl dicated at- 6. ,The supporting arms 41 are also adj usted so that their outer extremities the pipe and so that their downwardly projections 45 will rest upon a suitable part of the tool joint which is to be secured to the lower end of this joint of drill pipe, in case thearms 36 and 41 should not engage the side walls tightly enough to prevent the apparatus from slip-- ping downwardly'in the ipe. For example, in Fig. 2 the pin mem er 47 of the usual tool joint is of pipe 6', and the supporting arms 41 are shown as resting upon the bevelled internal face portion 48 thereof. The purpose of the downward projections 45 on arms 41 is to make certain that, in case the apparatus should slip downwardly in the pipe, it will be arrested upon engagement of said projections with the bevelled portion. 48 or other portion of the tool joint and while the lower end of the apparatus is still sufiiciently above the opening 46 through the tool joint to per'- `the drill pipe .28 and making shown as secured to the lower end' mit free iiow of fluid beneath the bottom of the apparatus and into said-opening. Clogging of this opening is thus prevented, as it .will be seen that, whether the arms 36 and 41 engage the inside of thel pipe tightly enough to hold the apparatus in the position 1 in which it is first placed in the pipe, or whether it is initially placed, or subsequently falls to, the position shown in Fig. 2, said arms will cause the axis of the apparatus to be at all times in alignment with the axis of and will also exert suiiicient frictional force to cause the detecting apparatus to rotate. with the drill pipe.

For use in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 3, the indicating agent, such as iodine or a dye, in dry finely divided form, may be placed in the interior of the upper casing section 24 of the detecting apparatus.- Such indicating agent is preferably volatile and maybe intimately admixed with 'a suitable combustible material, such as a slow burning powder, the mixture of slow burning powder and indicating agent, shown at 51, being advantageously contained in a container 52 formed of paper, cardboard, or other suitable material,'removably inserted within the upper section 24. An igniting fuse 53 is embedded within the mixture 51 and is provided with conducting leads 54 and 55 extending out through the lower end of container 52. One of said leads, such as 54 may be connected to binding post 56 extending centrally through and insulated from intermediatecasing section 25 and provided at its lower end with spring contact means 57, while the other lead 55 may be connected to a binding post 58 mounted upon end wall an electrical connection therewith. The wall of container 52 is preferably sutliciently thin to permit rupture thereof by the pressure generated upon ignition of the contents of said container. The cap member 27 is provided with passages 61 and 62 leading frointhe interior thereof to the outside, and a check valve 63 is provided between said passages for preventing entrance of mud or other material from the outside into the interior thereof. A light coil spring 64 may be provided if desired for normally -the intermediate casing section 25, may'advantageously comprise, as shown, a suitable number of small dry cells 66 such as are commonly used in pocket iiash lights, placed end to end therein with their terminalsV in contact. j The number of said dry cells -should be suilicient to produce suiiicient current through the end wall- 28 of the.

the igniting fuse 53 to cause said fuse to funcweight were caused to whirl rapidly upon raption. A sleeve 67 of insulating material may id rotation of the drill pipe. By supporting be provided between said dry cells and the the ball 88 upon the ball bearings 91, the fricwalls of casing section 25. 'I he upper termitional force exerted upon ball 88 is so reduced nal 68 of the series of dry cells makes conthat the inertia of weight 86 will be sufficient tact with the spring contact means 57 while to cause the same to remain substantially stathe lowermost terminal 69 thereof makes contionary regardless of rotation of the rest of tact with the head 71 of a binding post screw the apparatus.

72 extending centrally through and insulated from the top' wiall 32 of the lowermost section 36.

4The. deviation responsive .circuit-control yThe body member 76 is provided with a. plurality of cylindrical chambers 94 open attheir lower ends, in which are slidably mounted plungers 95 which are preferably ling means mounted in the lowermost section rounded at their lower ends'as shown at 96 26 of the apparatus is shown as comprising a and which reston the upper face 97 of weight cylindrical body member 76 supported by 86.` Suitable meansare provided for permitthreaded rods 77 from an insulating support ting iow of fluid into or out of cylinders 94 78 consisting, for example, of a disc or plate of bakelite or other suitable material, said insulating support being in turn supported by the binding post screw 72 aforesaid, which may be threaded into. a metal bushing`79 secured centrally of said insulating support.

The threaded ,rods 77 extend through the insulating support 78 and are providedwith adjustable clamping nuts 81 and 82 above and below said insulating support, whereby the vertical position of said insulating support relative to rods 77 and body portion 76 may above the plungers 95. For this purpose the plungers may be made to fit loosely in said cylinders so as to permit flow of fluid between the plungers and the walls of the cylinders. In the particular construction shown I have provided three cylinders and plungers, but it will be understood that any desired number thereof may be provided. Each of the plungers 95 is provided with a rod or stem 101.extending upwardly through a reduced opening 102 in the body member 76 A and provided at its upper end with a knob orbe adjusted. It will-be seen that when the head 103 threadedly mounted 01' Otherwise binding post screw 72 is screwed tightly into Secured thereon. Each plunger. 95 with its bushing 79, the, upper ends 0f rods 77 are knob 1 03 constitutesacircuit closm member. caused to bear against the topwall 32 so as flhe 0111211111 C10S111g knobs lodare e ectrically to hold the Parts above mentioned in rigid insulated from one another 1n any suitable position and to also establish' electrical connection of rods 77 to said wall 32 and hence to the entire metallic casing. The body member 76 preferably makes a snug fit with the inside ofthe casing section 26 so as to'further assist in holding the parts firmly in position. Said body member, however, may be provided with vertical grooves 84, so as to permitiree displacement of liquid from one side of said member to the other when inserting the same into the casing section or when 'vertically adjusting the'same.

A-weight or bob 86 is supported beneath the body member 76 in such manner as to Apermit free movement thereof in any direction about a point of support indicated at 87,

Isaid point of support 'being located above the center of gravity of said weight, so as to cause manner, as for example, by means of insulating sleeves 103 between said knobsand the res ective rods 101, as shown in Fig. 6.

. n the lowerside of the insulating support 78 are mounted a plurality of pairs of contact members, the number of said pairs of contact members corresponding to the number of circuit lclosing members. In this case I have shown three such pairs of contact members indicated at 104, 105 and 106 respectively. Each of said contact members fis formed as a resilient downwardly extending arm, and the arms of each pair are provided at their lower ends with portions such asindicated at 107 disposed at opposite sides of one of the circuit closing knobs 103 and somewhat above the same when the device is in vertical position, but adapted to be engaged said Weight 'to always assume a position with' by Said Circuit closing member uPon raising its center of gravity directly below said point of support. Said weight may be supported, for example, by means of a ball 88 connected thereto by pin 89, said ball resting in turn upon ball bearings indicated at 91 mounted tom of body member 76. An important function of the ball bearings 91 is to minimize the tendency for theweight 86 to be rotated with the rest of the apparatus, upon rotation of the drill pipe, and thus prevent a gyroscopic action or a swinging of the weight about its point of support such as might occur if the of the corresponding plunger due to deviation of the device fromv the vertical. All of the pairs of contact members above described are connected in series in the electric control circuit. F or this purpose the metal bushing 79 in a retaining member 92 secured to the botm 0f blndlng Post 72 1S Shown as Connected by 105 and one of the contact members 106 respectively. The other contact member 106 is connected by conducting strip 113 to one of the rods 77. As above stated, vsaid rod is in electrical Contact with the top wall 32 of the 4section of the casing, so that an electrical connection to the wall of the casing is thus provided.

The interior of casing section 26 is preferably entirely filled with a liquid, such as a substantiall non-conducting oil, which serves not only o lubricate all of the parts and insure freemovement thereof, as well as to prevent sparking at the contact points, Abut also interposes a certain resistance to displacement from the cylinders '94 upon application of a'li'fting force to the plungers by relative movement of weight 86, in case of deviation of the device from the vertical. 20, The manner in which the-above described A apparatus operates to give anindicationvofl excessive 'deviation of the borehole from the vertical is as follows: VYith the device in position in the drill pipe, the drilling operation proceeds in the usual manner, accompanied ya continual circulation of rotary mud .or fluid from sump 14, through pipe 13, pump 12, flexible hose 11, swivel 9, thence downwardly in the internal passage 19'of the drill so pipe ,and around the detecting device 22, out through the passage means 21 in the bit, then upwardly through the bore hole 4 and casing 2 and finally through pipe 16 to the receptacle 17, whence it overflows into the main body. of mud in the sump. So long as the bore hole remains substantially vertical, or does not deviate from the vertical beyond a certain allowable angle, the electric control circuit remains broken betweenthe contact members above described.

However, in case of deviation of the bore hol-e from the vertical, the drill pipe, and hence the detecting device located therein, will also deviate from the vertical, as indicated, for example, in Fig. 12, and as the weight 86 tends to always maintain a vertical position, that is to say, with its center of gravity directly beneath its point of support 87, a lifting force will be exerted by said weight upon each of the plunger-s 95,when it reaches a position, such as indicated at 95a in Fig. 12, during rotation of the device, and as the device is continually rotated with the drill pipe, such lifting force will be exerted 55 in turn upon each of said plungers. Upward movement of said plungers, however, is re-A4 sisted by the liquid contained in the cylinders 94 above the plungers, and the rate of such upward movement is determined by the rate 6o at which li uid can escape from said cylinders around the plungers. A The clearance provided around said plungers is pref'eraby so designed, in relation `to the upward farce exerted thereon, that an appreciable time will c5 be required to move any one of the plunger-s upwardly far-enough to close the circuit be-J tween the corresponding contact members, so that a single or momentary upward force or impulse delivered to said plungers, as in case of accidental swinging or vibratlon of the weight, will be insufficient to effect such lifting of the plungers However, in case 'off actual deviation of thedrill pipe and the detecting device from the vertical, during the drilling operation, each plunger is subjected to a lifting action at each rotation of the drill shown, for "example, at 956, so that eventually all of the plungers will be raised to such position that the circuit closing knobs 103- thereof engage the portions 107 of the corresponding contact members, thus closing all .of the normally open breaks in the control circuit. l 4

When the control circuit is completed as above described, .electric current will pass throughthe ignition fuse 53, through the following circuit: from Athe bottom terminal 69 of the dry cells 66, through binding post 72,

bushing 79, conductor 109, contact members 104 and the circuit controlling member 103 therebetween, conductor 111, contact members 105 and the circuit closing member therebetween, conductor 112, contact members 106 and the circuit closing member therebetween, conductor 113, rod 77, and wall 32, thence upwardly through the wall of Vthe casing sections 26 and 25 to binding post 58 and through lead 55, fuse 53, lead 54, binding post 56 and contact means 57, back to the upper terminal 68 of the dry cells. Fuse 53 will thereupon ignite the combustible constituent of the mixture 51 which-will burn, heating the indicating agent contained in said mixture sufficiently to volatilize the same. The pressure generated by the gas resulting from combustion of the powder, and by vaporization of the indicating agent, will be sutlicient to rupture the container 52 and open check valve 63 against the hydrostatic pressure in the well, so as to permit the indicating agent to pass through passages 61 and 62 into the stream of rotary mud.

The indicating agent need not necessarily be volatile at the pressure existing in the drill pipe and .at the temperature produced ly combustion of the combustible material. f

.an indicating agent is employed which is it willv non-volatile ,under these conditions, simply be carried out in finely divlded form .with the outliowing combustion gases, into the circulating iuid, and will become dissolved therein.

.The iuid, laden with iodine or other indiloo cating agent, then passes out into the hole ample, when iodine is used as an indicating agent, the indicating means may comprise a rod containing insoluble starch. When the iodine-laden portion ofthe mud passes said rod `it will take on the' characteristic deep blue or black color produced by solution of indicating agent, the indicating means 15 may be made of or 'contain a mordant, such as aluminum hydroxide, which will remove such dye from solution in the circulating Huid, forming a lake, and the presence of even a small concentration of dye'in the fluid will cause a cumulative coloring of the indicating means.- A readily perceptible indication is thus given at the surface, that the hole is beginning to deviate excessively from the vertical, and steps may immediately be taken to correct such deviation, before it has progressed to such a point as to make such correction difiicult or expensive. The amount of indicating agent delivered to the Huid at any one operation of the device is preferably suilicient to affect only Y a portion of the entire quantity of fluid in the 80 system, so that while its concentration in this portion, upon its rst passage through receptacle 17, is sufficient to be readil detectable, for example by the means above escribed,yet

v when distributed throughout the entire quan,

A tit of fluid its concentration becomes insuf-l ficlent to be so detected. Therefore, the same iiuid may continue to be used, and after it has once circulated and become thoroughly re-mixed, there will be no visible or appreclable evidence 'of the presence of the indicating agent therein, until the device, having been re-loaded meanwhile with a. fresh charge of indicating agent, again o crates to deliver the same to the circulating uid.

If desired, however, after an indication has been received the indicating agent may be rendered ineliective by destroying1 or -neutralizing the same by addition of a suitable reagent to the iiuid. For example, if iodine is used, it may be removed by addition of a suitable reducing agent, such as sodium thiosulphate, or, if a basic dye is used, it may be neutralized with acid. In any case, the reagent may be added in sufficient amount to substantially destroy the effectiveness of the indicating agent for further indicating purposes. A

A particularly advantageous form of means for indicating, and in fact recording, the presence of an indicating agent such as iodine or dye in the circulating iiuid, is shown in Fig. 13. Such means comprises a tape or ribbon 121, formed of paper, fabric, or other liexible material, impregnated with starch in` the lcase of iodine, or' with a morthe iodine in the starch. If a dye is usedas 'the tape by iodine'or dye delivered to the dant in the case of a dye, and passed in any suitable manner over rollers 122, so disposed that a portion thereof is alwaysimmersed in the fluid in receptacle 17. Said tape-or ribbonmay passed at-a re lar rate through the-fluid, and may'if desired be marked to indicate the time of passage of each portion thereof throughsaid iiuid, so that a lasting record is produced, showing the exact time at which deviation of the hole from the vertical occurred, as indicated by coloration of mud. Y A modified form of detecting apparatus is shown in Figs. .14 and 15. In this case the lowermost section 26 and the deviation responsive control means located therein, and

vthe intermediate section 25 with the source of electric current therein, Imay be substanvided with a horizontal partition 126 serv-y ing to divide the-interior thereof into a lowercompartment 127 and an upper com arti ment 128. The com artment 127 contamsa charge of vcombustib e material, such as slow burning .owder, indicated at 129, which may be inclu ed in the thin walled container 130 and provided with ani ting fuse 131 connected by leads 132 an 133 to the binding posts 56 and 58. The upper compartment 128 contains a quantity of liquid 136 comprising or containing the indicating agent. Said liquid, for example, may consist of a concentrated solution of iodine or of a dye. A-pipe 137 is provided opening at its lower end into compartment 127 and extending upwardly to above the liquid level in compartment 128 and opening at its upper end into said compartment above said liquid level. The removable cap 27a of this section of the casing is provided as before with passages 61a and 62a and with a check valve 63a, and a ipe 141 is provided leading downwardly rom passage 61a tonear the bottom of compartment 128 and being open at its lower end as In the operation of this form of detecting device, the deviation responsive means functions as before to complete the electric control circuit and cause ignition of the combustible material in compartment 127. The gases under pressure resulting from the combustion of this material,- pass upwardly through pipe 137' and cause the liquid 136 to be displaced from the upper compartment and to pass through pipe 141 and passages 61a and 62a, the pressure being suilicient to opencheck valve 63a. The indicating agent is thus delivered as before into the rot-ary fluid adjacent the lower end of the drill pipe and its presence therein may be detected in any suitable manner, f r example as above described, whenthe porlin of\lthe fluid consurface.

In addition to the indicating agents above mentioned, many others may also be'used. For example, the indicating agent may consist ofpotassium ferro-cyanide which may be used in dry form in the apparatus shown in Fig. A3, or in solutionin the apparatus shown in Fig. 14, and its presence in the circulating fluid may be detected by reaction with a ferric salt, producing the dark blue precipitate known as Prussian blue. Forthis purpose, the indicating means 15 may con-' sist. of, or contain, ferric hydroxide, which, upon contact of fluid therewith containing potassium ferro-cyanide, will take on a .deep blue color.

' The deviat-ion responsiveV means above described may be so adjusted as to cause completion of -the electric current and hence cause deliveryof the indicating agent into the circulating fluid, whenever the deviation from the vertical exceeds any desired predetermined angle. Such adjustment is eected, before the deviation responsive circuit control device isinserted in the casing section 26by loosening the nuts 81 and 82 on the several rods 77 bringing the insulating support 78 to the desired position relative to said rods, and then tightening said nuts, so as to holdgsaid insulating support in this position. It is evident that the relative positions of these parts determines the angular deviation necessary to effect completion of the electric c'ircuit, for lowering of said insulating support on said rod lowers the con- -tact making portion 107 of the several contact -members relative' to the respective circuit closing knobs 103, and hence decreases the angular deviation required to eiect movement of said circuit closing knobs into engagement with said contact members, while raising of said insulating support produces a reverse effect and increases the angular deviation required to` effect closing ofthe circuit between the several contactr members.

Another modified form ofmeans for causing delivery of the indicating agent from the detecting apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 16

and 17. In this case the delivery of the indicating agent is effected by mechanical displacing means whose operation is controlled by the electrical control circuit of' the detecting apparatus. The upper casing section 175 ofthe detecting apparatus is provided adi acent its upper en d with a flange or collar 176 in which are mounted the adjustable centering arms 177 which may, for example, be similar to the centeringl arms 36 of the other form of the invention above described. A plunger 178 is slidably mounted in the casing 175. said plunger being shown as comprising a leather cup 179 making a tight sliding fit with the wall of the casing and a metal disc 181 backing up said leather cup.A

Said leather cupand disc may be secured, as by clamping members 182, to a vertical rod 183 extending centrally of the casing.

Beneath the lower end of rod 183, a pair of holding arms 184Iare pivotally mounted on a shaft 185, said shaft being in turn mounted at' its ends on an annular rmg or collar 186 securedv to casing 175. Said arms are provided at their upperend with inwardlyex.- tending lips 187 adapted to engage over the top of an enlarged head 188 on the bottom of 4rod 183, so as to hold said rod from upward movement. Means Vsuch as spring 189 are provided tending to hold arms 184 inwardly in holdingV position. The respective arms 184 are provided with armature members 191 formed integrally therewith or. rigidly secured thereto, said arms extendingoutwardly over the upperends of. a U-shaped magnetic core member 192, on the arms of which are mounted electromagnetic coils 193. The upper casing section is shown as secured to the upper end of anintermediate casing section 25 as before, in which isprovided a battery 66 or other source of current, and electromagnets 193 are connected in seriesbetween the binding posts 56 and 58 by wires 194, 195 and 196.

The upper end of the casing section 175 is -open as shown at 198 and av removable cap member 199 is mounted upon the open upper end thereof, said cap member fitting thereon in suchmanner as to be readily removed upon upward movement of plunger 17 9. Said cap member preferably has a bevelled face 202 engaging a bevelled seat 203 on the casing.

The rod 183 may advantageously be continued upwardly above the plunger 17 8, as shown at 183', and cap member 199 may be threadedly mounted on the upper end thereof as at 201.

A spider 204 is'threadedly mounted in the upper end of casing section 175, the center or hub portion 205 of said spider being provided with an opening 216 ofv square or other polygonal cross section, adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped portion 217 on shaft 183 when the plunger is in its lowermost position, so as to hold said rod from turning when the cap member 199 is screwed thereon.- Said hub portion also serves as a stop for the plunger in its upward movement, and as a guide for rod 183 during such upward movement.

The indicating agent, such as a solution of a dye or other suitable material is placed in the interior of casing section 175 above the plunger 17 8, as .indicated at 206, in suiiicient amount to substantially fill said casing to the ment of plunger 178, a compression spring 208 of suitable strength is mounted between the plunger .178 and an annular collar or rmg 209. In orde'r to equaliie the 'pressure -above andbelow the plunger, and diminish the force required to move said plunger upwardly and force the indicating agent out ofthe device, the casing `175 is preferably provided with a plurality Aof perferations or openings 211 at a level beneaththe plunger 178 so as to'admit fluid or mud through these openings. The pressure beneath the plunger is, therefore, at

all times equal t the pressure outside the device, Sothat sp g 208 need be only of suilivcient strength to overcome the force of gravity and lift theplunger 17 8 and the indicating agent above the same upwardly out of the casm ing the electromagnets '193 and their armatures 191 from access of circulating iluid. For this purpose a iiexible membrane 212 of leather or the' like may b e secured'between collars 209 and 18.6,said membrane making a snug lit at its center about thehinge portions of arms 184. The i ace 214 beneath 'saidilexf ible membraneis a o preferably substantial-- ly filled with a suitable liquid, such as oil, ,so as to eliminate air or gas from said space,

' since if any gas were left in this space it would attractin be compressed bythe pressure of theliuid above said membrane, causing undue strain upon said membrane.

In preparing the device for use, the plunger 178, with the cap member 199 removed from the-upper end of rod 183, is pressed downwardly, compressing :spring 208, until the head 188 at the .lower end of said rod A asses between lips 187 and is caught beneath he same. The indicating agent is then placed in the space above said plunger, substantially filling the same, and cap member 199 is then secured in place on the upper end of rod 183.

In the operationof this form of delivery means, completion of the electric control circuitI will energize electromagnetic coils 193, armatures 191, downwardly against t e upper ends of core 19,2, against the action of spring 189. The'lips 187 on arms 184 will thus be moved out of, engagement with the enlarged head 188 on rod .183. Said rod is thus released, whereupon sprin 208 forces plunger 17 8 and the charge of indicating agent above the same upwardly out of the upper end of the casing, at the same time fence therein may raising cap member 1.99 'olf of its-seat. vThe charge of lndicating agent is thus quickly delivered into the circulating Huid and its presbe detected or observed in .the 'samemanner as before.

If the space between the' plungerand cap ,L99 is completely filled with liquid 'indicating agent, there will be substantiallyho compression of the contents of said space and consequently nov tendency to leakage of fluid into said space. If, however, this s ace'is not completely filled with liquid, due or example I ao' prefer to provide means for protectto trapping of air beneath the member below, and .permit upward passage of Huid past the same into the space above.

Iclaim: A

1. An ap aratus for indicating` excessive deviation o a rotary drill hole from the vertical during drilling thereof, comprising, in combination with arotary drill including a drill pipe, means adjacent the lower end of the drillpipeucont'aining a quantity ofin- .dicating agent, and means at the lower por# tion 'of the drill pipe and responsive to `deviation of such portlo'n of the drill .pipe from the vertical and operable only upon continued rotation of the drill pipe while suchdeviationexceeds a certain angle to cause delivery aol of said indicating agent to the circulating Y.

iiuid adjacent said portion of the drill pipe.

2. An ap aratus -for indicatingexcessive ,deviation o a rotary drillhole from the vertical during drilling thereof, comprising, in combination with a' rotary drill including a drill pipe, a deviation detecting device mounted adjacent the lower end of the drill pipe and containing a quantity'of indicating agent and operable only upon continued rotation of the drill pi while the deviation of the drill pipe fromt e vertical exceeds a cerv tain angle to cause delivery of said indicating agent to 'the circulating Huid, and indicating means disposed in the path of the circulating fluid upon its return to the surface and adapted to give an indication of the presence of said indicating agent in thecirculating fluid.

3. An apparatus for indicating excessive deviation of a rotary drill hole from th'e vertical during drilling thereof, comprising, in combination with arotary drill; including a drill pipe, means adjacent the lower end of 2l the drill pipe containing a 'quantity of indicating agent, electrically controlled means operable upon assage'of an electric current therethrough" or causing delivery of said indicating agent 'to the' circulating fluid, an

electrical control circuit for said electrically controlled means, includinga source of electric current mounted adjacent the lower end of the drill pipe, and means also mounted adjacent the lower endvof the drill pipe and operable to complete said control circuit only upon continued rotation of the drill pipe while such deviation of the drill pipe from the vertical exceedsa certain angle.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said circuit completing means comprising a plurality of circuit closing members disposed at diferent angular positions about a common center and operable to position to closev corresponding normally open breaks included in series in said control circuit, and means operable upon deviation of said drill pipe from the vertical, during rotation thereof, to successively engage said circuit closing members and to cause movement of said circuit closing members to circuit closing position when said deviation exceeds a certain angle.

5. An apparatus for indicating excessive deviation of a rotary drill hole from the vertical during drilling thereof, comprising, in combination with a rotary drill including a drill pipe having an internal passage for circulating fluid, enclosed casing means mounted -within said internal passage and spaced from the walls thereof, so as to permit passage of said circulating liuid around the same, a quantity of indicating agent ,contained within said casing means, and deviation'responsive means also contained within said casing means and operable only upon continued rotation of the drill pipe when the deviation of the drill pipe from the vertical exceeds a certain angle to cause delivery of said indicating agent from said casing means 4into said circulating fluid.

6. In combination with a rotary drill pipe yhaving an internal passage, an apparatus for indicating excessive deviation of said drill pipe from the vertical during drilling operations, comprising an elongated tubular casing mounted within said internal passage and spaced from the walls thereof, a quantity of indicating agent contained within said' casing, means within said casing and operable only upon continued rotation of the drill pipe to cause delivery of said indicating agent from said casing into the circulating luid in said internal passage of the drill pipe when the deviation of the drill pipe from the vertical exceeds a certain angle, and adjustable centering means for mounting said tubular casing within said internal passage and adapted t-o maintain the axis of said casing substantially parallel to the axis.

of the drill ipe.

7. In com ination withl a rotary drill pipe having 'an internal passage for circulating fluid, an enclosed tubular casing whose external diameter is less than the diameter of said internal passage, means for supporting said tubular casing within said internal passage, so as to hold the same in substantially fixed position with respect to said drill pipe andwith its axis 4substantially parallel to the axis of the drill within said casing and means mounted with- .in said casing and operable only upon continued rotation of the drill pipe to cause delivery of said indicating agent from said casing into the circulating -fluid when thev deviation of said casing from the vertical exceeds free pivotal movement thereof in all direc-A tions about its point of support, and a plurality of circuit closing members disposed at different positions about the center of said Weight and movable into and o ut of circuit closing position with respect to the contact means defining the respective breaks in said circuit, said circuit closing members bein in position to be successively engaged by sai weight upon deviation of said casing from the vertical, during rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis, and being movable to circuit closing position by such engagement of said weight therewith, when said deviation exceeds a certain angle. h

9. In combination with the electric control circuit of an electrically controlled apparatus for detecting deviation of a rotary drill pipe from the vertical, a plurality of circuit closing members operable to position to close corresponding normally open breaks connected in series in said circuit, and a weight mounted to swing freely in all directions about-a point of support and adapted to `always maintain a vertical position, said weight being adapted to successively engage said circuit closing members upon deviation of said drill pipe from the vertical during rotation thereof, and to move said circuit closing members to circuit closing position when said deviation exceeds a certain angle.

10. An apparatus for detecting excessive deviation of a rotary drill pipe from the vertical, during drilling operations, comprising means adjacent the lowerendofthe drillpipe, containing a quantity of indicating agent, a Weight freely supported adjacent the'lower end 0f the drill pipe for pivotal movement in all directions, so as to be gravitally main-- tained in vertical position at all times, and

ico

means operablehupon a certain prolonged deviation of said drill pipe relative to the verticalaxis of said weight,-durin g continued rotation of the drill pipe, to cause discharge of said indicating agent into the circulating fluid adjacent said containing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 'b th' 5th da of March 1929. pipe, aquantlty of lndicatlng agent contained fscrl ed'my mme 1s y JOHN J. JAKOSKY. 

